Pallets



May 2, 1961 F. H. wooDwARD 2,982,507

PALLETS Filed Jan. 27, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 g Y INVENTOR /fA/W( H. Waoow/P,

BY ..Mxmm

ATTORNEY May 2, 1961 F. H. wooDwARD PALLETS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 27, 1958 INVENTOR Frei/VK /WOW// BY M j ATTORNEXS United States Patent 0 PALLETS Frank H. Woodward, Woodward Lumber Co., Brattleboro, Vt.

Filed Jan. 27, 1958, Ser. No. 711,493

Claims. (Cl. 248-120) This invention relates to. improvements in pallets of the character used for lifting and supporting many different'types and kinds of lading, such as bags, boxes, etc., and which can be handled by lift trucks, fork trucks, and other lifting devices.

The present invention is a continuation-impart of my application Serial No. 665,250, iiled June l2, 1957, now abandoned.

Wo'oden pallets have been in customary use for this purpose, formed of stringers with Wooden boards secured to one or both opposite sides thereof. These are frequently made from relatively green or ineiectively dried lumber lwhich has a tendency to curl, warp or otherwise be deformed as the drying increases during usage. Checking of the bo'ard ends is a particular problem because of the tendency of the board ends to dry out more rapidly than the rest of the board. As a result, the pallet loses its rigidity, strength and permanency and may be knocked out of uniform shape in service.

It has been proposed heretofore, according to Woo'dward patent, No. 2,651,486, granted September 8, 1953. to provide a metal covering or plate over the opposite ends of the pallet, over the boards and around the stringers thereof, to' give strength and durability thereto, and such metal coverings have been very effective for the purpose. However, they add considerably to the cost of the construction. Furthermore, the edges of the coverings are often exposed at the top surfaces of the boards and are subject to being distorted, torn, etc., where boxes and bags can hang on these edges, thereby creating hazards to the smooth handling of the lading applied thereto.

One object of this invention is to overcome 4these objections and to improve the construction of the pallet.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the construction in using covering or reinforcing means to confino the boards securely on the Istringers and to give strength and durability thereto, while reducing the cost of manufacture.

Still another object of the invention lis -to provide for covering means to' hold the boards in place on the stringers and to bind al1 of the parts together without the location of the covering means at the top surfaces of the boards, but to conne the same in spaced relation thereto, where straps or other means used for the purpose will no't interfere with the proper handling of the lading, nor

" cause injury thereto.

A further object of the invention is to prevent the checking of the board ends in a pallet construction.

A still further object is to provide an improved pallet in which the board ends are effectively protected against any abuse and rough usage encountered in service.

"ice

tions in the strips, whichaids in confining the boards i in place against danger of slippage, displacement, and the like.

The grooves may be formed as saw kerfs, which does Longitudinal rabbets may be formed on the inner sides of the end stringers, at the tops and bottoms thereof, so that the boards, together with the stringers, form rabhetl Jointswhich afford complete protection for the board en s. Y

These embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of pallet em.- bo'dying this invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof; Blais a cross-section therethrough on the line 3 3 in 1g.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section therethrough on the line 4--4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of a modified form of pallet embodying this invention;

Fig. 6 is a cross-section therethrough, on the line 6-6 in Fig. 5'; i

Fig. 7 is a cross-section therethrough on the line 7-7 in Fig. 6; and f Fig. 8 is a similar view on the line 8-8 in Fig. 6.

The invention is shown as applied to a pallet of conventional form, as illustrative of certain embodiments of the invention. Such pallet structure includes intermediate and end stringers, generally indicated at 1 and 2, respectively. These stringers customarily are formed of wooden pieces substantially of the size of 2 x 4s, although the size and character thereo'f may be varied as desired.

Secured on one or both opposite edges of the stringers are a plurality of boards, indicated at 3. The' boards are secured to the stringers, and I have indicated nails as the fastening means for attaching lthe boards to the intermediate Stringer 1. Nails 4 are used to attach the ends of the boards to the end stringers 2. It is preferred that the heads of Ithe nails be indented into the wood at the top surface of each board, which may be done in the conventional fashion, to prevent interference by the heads o-f the nails with the smooth top surface of the pallet. Any suitable number of nails may be used for the purpose, or other suitable fo'rms of fastenings may be em l i ployed in place of nails.

Each of the boards 3 is provided with grooves'6 in lthe opposite ends thereof, formed in planes parallel with The strips 7, if used at both opposite edges o'f each stringr` er, may be formedof separate pieces or may be formed of one continuous piece, as desired. If of one piece, lity may extend continuously over one of the adjacent string ers, as indicated at 8 in Fig. 2, and the ends thereof be brought together and overlapped, as shown at 9 in Figs. 1 and 2, where they are secured byywelding or by'a fastening 10, such as a nail. T he 'strips may be' over-A lapped at opposite ends of each Stringer, if rdesired,y or

they may terminate at the ends without overlapping'at the K ends of the stringers.

The provision of such covering stripsl on `the ends of s' il?,

the stringers aids in protecting theends` of theV stringers against damage, splitting, etc., resulting from striking' the ends of the stringers with the forksof a i the same time, the relatively smallamout of A .2,982,507 Patented May. 2, 1961 added does not increase appreciably the cost of the construction.

The strips 7 are held in place by the nails 4, or other fastenings, that are driven throughthe ends of the boards 3 and into the end stringers. These nails.4 are driven through the boardsafter the metal strips are inplace. Being able to drive the nails into the boards, through the metal strips and into the boards again before entering the stringers, preserves the strength and rigidity of the boards and aids in providing secure fastenings for the boards and thereby holding these securely in place.

It is also desirable that additional fastenings be driven through the strips7 intermediate the boards, as indicated at 11 in Figs. 2 and 4. Portions of each strip 7 extend in bridging relation between the adjacent spaced edges of the boards 3, and as nails or other suitable fastenings 11 are driven through these bridging portions of the strips, they not only anchor the strips in place, but also tend to hold the boards rigidly and properly separated from each other. The nails 11 form depressed portions in the strips 47 between the boards, thereby drawing the metal down in the spaces between the boards as the nails are driven into the stringers.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. to 8, the parts of the pallet are identified by reference characters corresponding to the ones used in Figs. l to 4. In this form of the invention, the end stringers 2 are made from 2 x 6s which have rabbets, indicated at 5', at the top and bottom of the inner sides and extending throughout the lengths thereof. The intermediate Stringer 1 is made from 2 x 4 stock as was the embodiment previously described.

Secured on one or both opposite edges of the stringers are a plurality of boards 3 which rest at their ends in the rabbets 5 such that the upstanding anges 12' completely cover the board ends and form a substantially smooth surface at the pallet faces.

The boards are secured to the stringers by any suitable fastenings such as nails 4 which are recessed into the board surfaces in a conventional manner to prevent interference with the smooth top surface of the pallet.

The opposite ends of the boards 3 have grooves 6 located therein. These grooves should extend to a depth corresponding to the thickness of the end stringers 2 and may be formed as saw kerfs.

Located Within the grooves 6' and extending lengthwise along opposite edges of each end Stringer 2 are metal bands 7. These bands are secured at the exposed ends of the stringers 2 by any suitable means such as fastenings 10' or by welding. While these strips have been described as being overlapped, this is not necessary and if desired they may terminate without overlapping in any suitable fashion.

Metal strips 7 are secured by nails 4 which are driven into the ends of the boards 3' and into the stringers.

The metal strips 7 are drawn taut by nails 11 which are driven into the strips 7 intermediate the boards 3. The nails 11' thus form depressed portions in the strips 7 located in the spaces between the boards thereby holding the boards rigidly in position separate from each other.

By reason of the rabbets 5 in the stringers 2', the ends of the boards 3' are completely covered and the top surface of the pallet has no upstanding portions which would tend to snag or damage the material placed thereupon. The board ends which are no longer exposed, as in conventional structures, do not readily dry out and checking is thereby minimized. Also the board ends are more securely positioned and the resulting rigid structure is less subject to the common problem of racking.

In either form of the invention as described, material added strength is obtained as compared with the usual wooden-pallet, and at the same time, checking of the board `ends and the curling of the boards, resulting from drying, iS materially retarded or prevented, as likewise thezwarpingr. checking. and pulling off of the, boards leaving a uniform top surface, which will not cause a hazard to the lading nor damage thereto in any way. Moreover, the location of the strips within the end grooves prevents these from slipping around and getting out of place and adds much to the structural improvement of the pallet.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in certain embodiments, it is recognized that other variations and changes may bc made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.

I claim:

l. A pallet comprising wooden stringers at opposite ends of the pallet, each of the stringers being relatively long and narrow, spaced cross boards on the opposite long sides only of the stringers, said cross boards having aligned grooves in the ends thereof intermediate the top and bottom surfaces of the boards, metal strips extending lengthwise around the respective stringers through the grooves in the ends of the boards and over the opposite ends of the stringers directly in abutting relation with said ends, fasteners extending through the boards and through the portions of the strips in the grooves and into the stringers and securing the boards to the stringers, and means for drawing the strips taut and for anchoring the boards comprising fasteners pass ing through portions of the strips spanning the spaces between the boards and bowing said strip portions downwardly toward thc adjacent edges of the stringers, said last-mentioned fasteners extending into the stringers and being anchored thereto.

2. A pallet comprising wooden stringers at opposite ends of the pallet, each of the stringers being relatively long and narrow, spaced cross boards on the opposite long sides only of the stringers, said cross boards having aligned grooves in the ends thereof intermediate the top and bottom surfaces of the boards, metal strips extending lengthwise around the respective stringers through the grooves in the ends of the boards and over the opposite ends of the stringers directly in abutting relation with said ends, each of said strips having opposite ends directly overlapped on one end of the Stringer, a fastening extending through said overlapped ends of the strip and into said end of the stringer and securing the strip thereto, fasteners extending through the boards and through the portions of the strips in the grooves and into the stringers and securing the boards to the stringers, and means for drawing the strips taut and for anchoring the boards comprising fasteners passing through portions of the strips spanning the spaces between the boards and bowing said strip portions downwardly toward the adjacent edges of the stringers, said last-mentioned fasteners extending into the stringers and being anchored thereto.

3. A pallet comprising wooden stringers, said stringers having L.-shaped longitudinal rabbets, said rabbets ex tending through cach Stringer more than half the thickness thereof, spaced cross boards on opposite sides of the stringers having their end faces located in said rabbets, fasteners extending through the boards into the stringers for securing the boards thereto, the boards on each side of the stringers having aligned grooves in the ends thereof intermediate the top and bottom surfaces of the boards, and metal strips extending through the grooves and continuously around the respective stringers, said strips being bent sharply at the corners of the stringers to engage atly against the end faces of the stringers, means for permanently securing the ends of said strips to the stringers, the fasteners extending through portions of the boards on opposite sides of the strips and through the strips into the stringers and securing the strips in place, and means for drawing the strips taut and anchoring the boards comprising fasteners passing through the portions of the strips spanning the spaces between the boards and bowing said strip portions downwardly, said last-mentioned fasteners extending into the stringers and being anchored thereto.

4. A pallet comprising wooden stringers having longitudinal rabbets in the opposite edges thereof, said rabbets being L-shaped and extending through each Stringer more than half the thickness thereof, spaced cross boards on opposite sides of the stringers having their end faces located in said rabbets, headed fasteners extending through the boards into the stringers for securing the boards thereto, the boards on each side of the stringers having aligned grooves in the ends thereof intermediate the top and bottom portions of the boards, metal strips extending lthrough the grooves and secured in place by the fastenings of the boards, said fastenings extending through portions of the boards on :opposite sides of the strips and through the strips into the stringers, and means for drawing the strips taut and anchoring said boards comprising fasteners passing through the strips in the portions spanning the spaces between the boards and bowing said strip portions downwardly, said last-named fasteners passing into said stringers.

5. A pallet comprising wooden stringers said stringers having L-shaped longitudinal rabbets, said rabbets extending through each Stringer more than half the thickf ness thereof, spaced cross boards on opposite sides of the stringers having their end faces located in said rabbets, fasteners extending through the boards into the stringers for securing the boards thereto, the boards on each side of the stringers having aligned grooves in the ends thereof intermediate the top and bottom surfaces of the boards,

and metal strips extending through the grooves and continuously laround the respective stringers, means for permanently securing the ends of said strips to the stringers, the fastenings extending through portions of the boards on opposite sides of the strips and through the strips into the stringers and securing the strips in place, and means for drawing the strips taut and anchoring the boards comprising fasteners passing through the portions of the strips spanning the spaces between the boards and bowing said strip portions downwardly, said last-mentioned fasteners extending into the stringers and being anchored thereto. 

